Video Transcript for SeaSucker Monkey Bars Roof Rack Review

Speaker 1: Today we're going to be taking a look at the Seasucker Monkey Bar vacuum cup roof rack system. It's available in a folding application, part number 298-SX6100. You can also get it in a fixed application, with part number 298-SX6000. The Seasucker Monkey Bars are perfect for vehicles that don't have a roof rack fit, or any vehicles where you want to easily be able to remove your roof rack system.You can carry all of the same gear as a standard roof rack system. Here we've got a surf board, and a road bike, but you can carry kayaks, skis, snowboards, cargo boxes, and much more. It has a round bar design, with an inch and a quarter diameter.

It'll work with any accessories that'll accept round bars. Each vacuum cup has a 210 pound pull strength, so as you can see, we're shaking the whole vehicle and it's not budging.You can mount them anywhere on your roof, just as long as you avoid seams, chips, or raised edges. You can even mount it to glass, like on your sunroof, or rear hatch. It has a 150 pound weight capacity. That's the same whether you have the folding or the fixed version.

You will want to be sure to check with your vehicle's owner's manual to see if your roof can support that much weight.The round bars are 48 inches long. However, the vacuum cups are adjustable along the round bar, so you can customize it to your vehicle's roof. Now on long trips, you want to periodically check your vacuum cups, should one of the orange bands reappear, no problem, simply depress the pump cylinder until it disappears, and you're all set to go again.Another great feature is, of course it's not permanent, so when you're all done you can easily take it off. Simply depress on one of the raised sides of the vacuum cup, and it comes right off. And if you have the folding version, it easily breaks down, so you can store it in your trunk, or rear hatch.

Most other roof rack systems are custom fit. Since this one's universal, you can use it on multiple vehicles.And if you're using it on more than one vehicle, it may be a less expensive option than to pick up two roof rack systems. The bars sit about 4-3/4 of an inch up from the vacuum cups, so you can even use them on vehicles with raised side rails. Now that we've gone over the features, I'll go ahead and show you how to get them installed.The first thing we need to do, is make sure that roof of our vehicle is clean of any dirt or debris. So we're just using some cleaner, and we'll get it nice and clean.

Now we'll take our front crossbar, it's going to be the one with the double cups. We'll fold it out, push it together, and set it in place. Now you want to be sure you don't rest your vacuum cups on any seams or any paint chips.So what I'm going to do here, is I'm going to adjust mine in, on both sides, so that we have even bar overhang. Now we can take an Alan tool and tighten it up. Now, before we secure our vacuum cups, we'll need to moisten the bottom of them. So I'm just going to take a little bit of water, and do the same on the other side. Once we have it positioned where we want, I'm going to apply a little bit of down pressure, and I'm going to begin depressing the pump cylinder until the orange band disappears.Once this one's done, we can move onto the next one. And then we can repeat the same process on the other side. I've gone ahead and installed the rear crossbar. It installs the same way, just one less vacuum cup. You want to be sure and position it, how it's going to work out best with your accessories.And that's going to complete our look at the Seasucker Monkey Bar vacuum cup roof rack system.

Order: This roof rack mounts to your vehicle in seconds with 6 vacuum cups. It's easy to transfer from vehicle to vehicle, and the bars fold in half for convenient transport and storage. Round, aluminum crossbars carry kayaks, skis, and other gear.

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by: S05/29/2019

2015 Mini Cooper

I ordered these to use on my 2015 F56 MINI Cooper S 2-door hatchback in a pinch (on the road already) after doing a lot of research. I've never used a roof rack myself so I wanted to be sure. I am quite impressed! The curvature of the MINI roof was a concern, but was easily solved by this rack. One suction cup was a little tricky based on the curve, but I moved the cup slightly and everything was good to go. My panoramic sunroof has perfect clearance for the tilt/vent open option, as well as fully open with no problems. I used a Rolla cage with Rolla waterproof bag for this trip, which ended up being about an 8-hr drive with speeds up to 80mph (passing vehicles, of course.) As the directions cautioned, I checked the suction at every (two) stops, and did not have a problem. The wind noise was slightly higher than normal, but nothing more than I'd get with the sunroof vented/tilted open. It was crazy but I had my window partly open for air and could hear a slight metallic jingle noise that I couldn't figure out the cause of at first -- turns out the waterproof bag's zipper pulls were directly over my head, and I could hear THAT over the wind noise! So very quiet with my rig set up. This rack is not intended for full-time wear as the suckers may not hold the same over time, which means it's a put on only for trips and remove when done. I can super easily remove the suction cups, and with a little care, I can remove the entire rig (racks and cage) by myself with zero damage to the roof. (Lifting with the cage to put ON was a two-person job to make sure it was even on the roof, however.) Having the Seasucker rack connected to the cage means I haven't used the "fold up" function much yet, however, it will be a great option. The only drawback to these racks is 1) first time putting it on at JUST the right spot on a curvy roof can be frustrating, but can be done 2) be careful with the suction pump if you have big fingers - the pump is directly above one of the "release" points. A friend helping me put it together kept accidently releasing the suction when trying to get a good seal/suction. 3) the Allen wrench it comes with for the bar clamps might be better served with a different S-shape so it doesn't bump into the suction cup when tightening. But overall, I'm very impressed with the system.
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I like the racks. I have used them for surfboards, SUP's and kiteboards.
I still tie them down with an additional strap for safety.
One of the suction cups it came with was defective but they do send a spare.
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by: George06/24/2018

Review from a similar SeaSucker Monkey Bars in Roof Rack

I bought a new 2018 Chevy Volt and thought I would get Yakima racks since I surf a lot. Well the Yakima racks are not rated for surfboards. Image that! Well I was pretty despondent after finding out the racks would not be suitable for surfboards. So I started searching and found a guy recommending the Seasuckers on a Volt forum. After exhaustive research to become comfortable with suction cup roof racks I decided to pull the trigger. Etrailer offered the best price with free shipping and no sales tax. It turned out they have excellent customer service with real people to answer questions, Brittany was terrific.
I received the items 3 days after ordering and they are worth every penny. Quality product with incredible flexibility to fit any vehicle and solid as any roof rack system I have ever owned. This elegant solution allows me to to install in 2 or 3 minutes and remove in 30 seconds thus preserving the aerodynamics of my Volt when not surfing. Perfect to increase my mileage. Highly recommended, was the answer I needed.
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Comments

still working as when new. I do put the white cup covers on after every use. I thnk that is important to keep the cup in good shape. The only suggestion I have is that the rail should be a aerodynamic blade style. Otherwise great product.

George P - 06/25/2019

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by: Jonny B06/10/2019

Review from a similar SeaSucker Monkey Bars in Roof Rack

Bought these to install on a Honda Odyssey for the purpose of carrying a rooftop cargo bag. They worked perfect! Installed the night before, removed and reinstalled the back bar the next day, determined that bar still had a strong grip so I left the front bars installed while re-upping the suction grip, drove 5.5 hours through some crazy-hard rain, most of the time cruising at 75-80, and never had the first issue with the bars. While I checked the suction about halfway through the trip, no more suction could be gained and they were still perfect upon arrival. I actually left them installed during our stay and 4 days later, the suction was still quite strong, but did need 2-4 small pumps at each cup. Only thing I can't learn is recommended distances between the bars if that even matters. On the way down, I had the back bar slightly less than 3' behind the front with my bag resting on both bars. Since its a soft cargo carrier, I moved the back bar to just over 4' behind the front so the bag could completely rest on the roof and neither method gave any troubles or caused any issues. The sound from the bars when empty is very noticeable!
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by: Randy06/10/2019

Review from a similar SeaSucker Monkey Bars in Roof Rack

Product was as advertised. This was my only solution for putting kayaks on my 2018 Nissan Titan King Cab and still be able to use my tonneau cover. Held the 2 kayaks for a 75 mile trip and no issues. Thanks again for your help!
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by: Peyton05/10/2019

Review from a similar SeaSucker Monkey Bars in Roof Rack

Great product for me with my vehicle with no roof rails to carry surfboards/SUP. Easy to set-up and fits my Honda Civic perfectly. Excellent materials and construction of product. No holes to drill! Shipped timely and packaged well by the staff at etrailer. Would definitely recommend to potential buyers.
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by: Michaela05/07/2019

Review from a similar SeaSucker Monkey Bars in Roof Rack

Good product easy followed videos for installation.
No problem for girl to assemble
Able to have 2 wide kayaks on my Chevrolett
Sonic Turbo.
Today assemble, tomorrow it will go on the roof of the car
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by: Steve04/04/2019

Review from a similar SeaSucker Monkey Bars in Roof Rack

Previously I had a Thule rack with posts that were supposed to be work with my car. They were expensive and never attached properly. These suction cup racks were easy to assemble and attach with very little effort. I took them out of the box in within 30 minutes I has my kayak tied on (only to the rack and not to the car) and drove it for awhile. It was all very easy. Note, as explained in the instructions they should hold for 4 hours. I did see that at 3 hours one vacuum gauge was slightly out, indicating some loss of suction. It was still on tight and its very easy to pump any cup back to full pressure.
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by: Joseph Lemire04/18/2019

Review from a similar SeaSucker Monkey Bars in Roof Rack

This product holds really well but it hums kind of loud .. For a $450 price tag it should not make that much noise sitting on top of your car
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by: Steven04/04/2019

Review from a similar SeaSucker Monkey Bars in Roof Rack

I didn’t want to drill any holes in the roof of my RV, so I epoxied some acrylic “landing pads” to the roof (which was too bumpy to suck onto directly). I then used the suction cups to mount this rack. I have driven all the way from Seattle to San Francisco thus far, and it has worked perfect. Every couple of days I still check the suction cups and pump them down a little bit, however it appears that the suction is holding quite well.
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Seasucker has been around since 2005, getting their start by mounting accessories to boats with vacuum cups. It was 2009 that they started putting things on cars, like bike and kayak racks. The Monkey Bars themselves, parts # 298-SX6000 for the soild bar and # 298-SX6100 for the folding model, came out pretty recently in 2017.
Both types of the Monkey Bars are rated for 150 pounds and each vacuum cup is rated for up to 210 pound of pull strength. They're tested their accessores on...view full answer...

The SeaSucker Monkey Bars Roof Rack - Vacuum Cup Mount - Folding - 48" Long # 298-SX6100 does simply use the vacuum cups as the sole securing factor. Each vacuum cup is rated for 210 lbs pull strength, so this system is claiming 1,200 lbs of pull strength and they have been tested with cargo at highway speeds without issue. The strength is really incredible...I've attached a video to assist.
For increased security and theft deterring, they recommend the window mounted cable anchor...view full answer...

I do have a solution for you, but unfortunately this roof rack will not fit your 2015 Kia Soul.I spoke with my contact at Rola who said that the Rola Sport Series Roof Rack # 59789 that you referenced is a low-clearance rack that doesn't fit with the design of the panoramic sunroof as the sunroof bubbles up a little bit so this roof rack will not fit your specific Kia Soul.
Out of the linked selection of roof rack options we have a round bar system from SeaSucker, part # 298-SX6000 or...view full answer...

I do have a solution for you, but unfortunately your 53" Thule AeroBlade bars will only fit on Thule roof rack legs and there are no fits for your 2015 Mini Cooper.
We do have some suction cup roof rack options like what you mentioned though. SeaSucker has created a powerful suction cup system (each cups has a pull strength of 210 lbs) and incorporated their own roof rack using the suction cups. Part # 298-SX6000 and part # 298-SX6100 both use 48" round crossbars and have a 150 lb weight...view full answer...

I recommend the Yakima LongArm, part # Y01149-1150, for the hitch extender. This is a pretty new part offered from Yakima and they were here a few months ago showing it off to us. This thing is solid and it's versatile since it can be set at roof or bed height. I've linked a video from when our installers tested it out for you.
Since you don't want a permanent roof rack take a look at the SeaSucker Monkey Bars. There's two models, part # 298-SX6000, which are standard round crossbars...view full answer...

If you are having OEM flush roof side rails installed on your 2019 Pilot you can use any profile of aftermarket crossbar (round, square, aero or elliptical) since the Malone DownLoader Kayak Carrier # MPG114MD fits any bar shape. By the way their Telos Load Assist # MPG351XL measures just under 59-inches long when retracted. All roof racks for this flush rail configuration are shown on the linked page.
Roof racks for the flush rail setup are not really intended for repeated installation...view full answer...

I spoke with my contact at SeaSucker regarding the Monkey Bars Roof Rack # 298-SX6100 you referenced, which is confirmed to fit your 2015 VW Beetle. He stated that the Monkey Bars will work well in the extremely cold conditions you described. They have many customers who use these bars for this type of application, whether during cold winters or for use with ski racks, etc, which will be taken up to high elevation, frigid environments.
The only difference when using the rack during...view full answer...

There are only two kinds of roof racks available for your 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee without the e-group rails. We have the style you said you don't care for which uses clamps to attach to the doors like the Rhino Rack # RRVA137S-2, # RRRLKVA, and # DK234 and we have the SeaSucker style which uses vacuum cups to attach to the roof like the part # 298-SX6100. See picture. I REALLY wish we had a rack that attached to the rails you have like you mentioned but at this time we do not.view full answer...

If your 2015 Lexus RX350 has a factory roof rack with the crossbars already then you can use a kayak carrier that fits your current bars as well as the Yakima bars on the Rack and Roll Trailer # Y08107.
I recommend the Yakima JayLow # Y04073 because of the versatility. The JayLow is designed to carry one or two kayaks and can also be folded down when not in use. The tie-down straps for the first kayak are included. If you need a second set use # Y04031. The JayLow can also be locked...view full answer...

If you definitely want a Yakima roof rack then the clamp-style attachement is all that is available at this time. For their system I recommend CoreBar system using BaseLine towers # Y00146, fit kits # Y06145 and # Y06128, and then either the 50 inch, part # Y00421, or 60 inch, part # Y00422, crossbars.
Since your 2018 Toyota Tacoma has the fixed mounting points there are Rhino-Rack systems that fit. I recommend the Vortex Aero bars, part # RRVA126B-2, with # RRRLT600 legs, and # RRQMFK08-2...view full answer...

We actually do have a system that fits all three vehicles; however, it's not a traditional roof rack because they have custom fits that are specific to each vehicle.
Instead take a look at the SeaSucker Monkey Bars. It uses vacuum cups to mount on each vehicle's roof making it easy to move from one to another. The vacuum cups have a pull strength of 210 pounds each and each bar has four cups. Take a look at the video of another SeaSucker product on the VW bus to see how strong they...view full answer...

What you have would be what's considered a naked roof and not what our flush mount roof racks for your vehicle are designed to fit. The SeaSucker part # 298-SX6100 would be only option. This rack style is surprisingly strong once you can get past the design. This rack also installs an removes very easily.view full answer...

We do have a large selection of roof racks available that are confirmed to fit your 2014 Acura MDX with the naked roof.
When it comes to roof rack systems, the difference in brands/manufacturers will usually just come down to personal preference, along with the type of crossbars you want. Thule and Yakima tend to represent the more premium options (Thule crossbars are considered to be the quietest on the market.), while Rhino-Rack will usually offer a more cost-effective, but still high...view full answer...

I recommend the SeaSucker Monkey Bars part # 298-SX6100 for the Tesla Model X. The SeaSucker bars attach to the Tesla's roof with 6 vacuum cups and allow you to carry your kayaks when it's time to go kayaking. When you are done with your adventure you can remove the rack and fold it up for storage so the rack is not always on your roof compared to other roof racks that can be difficult to remove and reinstall. The SeaSucker brand is the only roof rack that works on the Tesla Model X's roof...view full answer...

The straps on the Thule Crossroad Foot Pack are not replaceable so if the straps are broken then you need part # 753-3399 which is a single unit.
Please note that if you have a 2009 Chevy Equinox like what you put in the fit guide then the only square bar roof rack option that is compatible with your vehicle comes from Inno and includes the 46" Long Square Bars # INB117, Feet # INTR, and Fit kit # INTR103. This only fits if you have the flush mount rails that run from front to back....view full answer...

We do have some roof rack systems that fit your 2018 Honda Accord. I've linked the selection for you.
The most popular of all of them is the Thule WingBar system with the 53 inch bars # TH711420, Evo clamp feet # TH710501, and fit kit # TH145151. The crossbars actually come in silver as well using part # TH711400. I've attached a couple videos on the bars and feet for you.
The system installs using clamps that go in the door seams of the Accord to fasten it to the roof. The only...view full answer...

To use the Thule Goalpost, # TH997, on the front of your 2010 Ford F250 Super Duty, you will need a front mounted hitch like the Curt Front Hitch, # C31008. This will provide a hitch opening to support the Goalpost. The support straps can also be secured to your tow hooks on the front of your truck. I have attached the installation instructions for the front hitch for you to check out.
The Goalpost load support should not interfere with air flow very much since the only part of the...view full answer...

The Thule Traverse Roof Rack with the square crossbars, # TH712200, Rapid Traverse Foot Pack, # TH480R and Fit Kit, # THKIT1064, will fit your 2004 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab as long as it has a bare roof. A bare roof will not have a factory roof rack or side rails.
At this time there are no Thule roof rack fits for models with factory side rails. The Thule Traverse roof rack has a maximum weight capacity of 165 lbs. I strongly recommend checking your owners manual or with your local...view full answer...

The easiest to put on and take off roof rack for your 2011 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is the SeaSucker Monkey Bars. They mount on the roof with vacuum cups so they're about as universal as you can get. I've linked a video of another SeaSucker on a VW bus so you can see just how strong the vacuum cups are. It's pretty impressive.
The Monkey Bars come in two different styles; the straight bars, part # 298-SX6000, and the folding bars, part # 298-SX6100. I've also linked a review video...view full answer...

For your 2019 Honda Odyssey, there are only the raised side rails or no rails. Based on your photo and description, I recommend the SeaSucker Monkey Bars Roof Rack - Vacuum Cup Mount # 298-SX6000 or the foldable # 298-SX6100. Each vaccum cup has a pull strength rating of 210 lbs. I've attached a video to assist with the strength of this system so you can rest assured it won't come loose from your vehicle.
Then you can use the SUP and Surfboard Pads for SeaSucker Monkey Bars - 19-1/2"...view full answer...

If your Civic Wagon has the raised rails that run along the edge of the roof from the front to the rear of the vehicle, SportRack offers a crossbar solution, part # SR1098.
If your Civic Wagon has a bare roof the only option we carry is the SeaSucker Monkey Bars; either the standard bars # 298-SX6000 or the folding bars # 298-SX6100. It uses vacuum cups to mount to the roof. I've linked a video of a different SeaSucker product on a VW bus that shows off the strength of the cups. You...view full answer...

The roof rack that I have available for a 2004 Saturn Vue if you have raised side rails is the Rhino Rack roof rack # RRVA118B-2 with # RRSX100.
If you don't have raised rails o your Saturn then the only rack we carry that fits is the Monkey Bars using part # 298-SX6000 or # 298-SX6100.view full answer...

For your 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee with just the black rails on the roof that run from front to back (non e-group) the Rhino Rack roof rack part numbers # RREB137B, # RRRLKVA, # RREB-FK1, and # DK234 is a confirmed fit and would be our best option although it grabs the door frame like you said you didn't prefer. This is a very secure method of install and does not allow water to get into the vehicle either so it would work well for you.
Or we have the SeaSucker roof rack part number #...view full answer...

Since your 2008 Ford Edge has a naked roof there isn't anything to attach a traditional roof rack to without the clamps; however, the SeaSucker Monkey Bars will work for you. I wouldn't call it a permanent mount but there's no reason you couldn't leave it on the car. Or you can just take them off since they install and uninstall so easily.
SeaSuckers mount using vacuum cups. So they can essentially be mounted almost anywhere with any crossbar spread. I've linked a couple of videos...view full answer...

I checked with the roof rack manufacturers and there is just one option for your 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid that has a naked roof, but it is a very good one, the SeaSucker Monkey Bars Roof Rack # 298-SX6000; there is also a folding option of this rack, part # 298-SX6100 (all prices can be found on the respective product pages).
The SeaSucker roof rack is outstanding because not only is it very easy to take on and off your RAV4 with its vacuum cups, but it has a hefty 150 lb weight capacity...view full answer...

I would be happy to help you choose a roof rack for your 2019 Mini Cooper Coupe!
If you have the flush mount rails that run from the front to the back of your roof then I recommend going with the Yakima JetStream roof rack system. This consists of the JetStream Bars # Y00425 Black or # Y00428 Silver, the RidgeLine Towers # Y00145, and the Fit Kit # Y06009. The aerodynamic design of the JetStream bars will help to reduce wind noise and drag while the aluminum construction keeps them from...view full answer...

Based on your application with the freedom panels and the hard top, I recommend using the SeaSucker Monkey Bars Roof Rack - Vacuum Cup Mount - 48" Long # 298-SX6000 or the Folding version of the same # 298-SX6100. The cups hold 210 lbs each but the rack is rated for a capacity of 150 lbs.
These will work well for carrying 2 kayaks when using the Rhino-Rack J-Style Kayak Carrier - Folding # S512 and Expansion Arm # RRS512X.view full answer...

Yes, the SeaSucker Monkey Bars Roof Rack # 298-SX6100 will work on your 2018 Chevy Equinox to carry your FeelFree Moken 12.5 kayak. You may want to add the crossbar pads # 298-SA1022 for some added protection and cushioning for your kayak, as well as the Cam Buckle Straps # 298-SA0010 to tie down the kayak to the bars.
If you're at all worried about security and intend on leaving your kayak unattended when attached to your vehicle I recommend a cable lock like the Fulton 15 ft # FCLK150100...view full answer...

You need to start with a complete roof rack. If you give me the model year I can recommend a roof rack for your GMC Acadia. Another option, especially since you're looking or something that is easily removable is the SeaSucker MonkeyBars, part # 298-SX6000. It's a universal roof rack that uses vacuum cups. Before you second guess the stability of the cups take a look at the video I've linked of one of the SeaSucker bike racks on a VW bus. There's also a folding version of the MonkeyBars...view full answer...

The SeaSucker Monkey Bars, part # 298-SX6000 for the standard bars and part # 298-SX6100 for the folding bars, are a fit for pretty much any vehicle as long as there's enough space on the roof and the roof isn't completely glass. A glass roof won't support the weight of anything being directly applied to it. So it'll certainly fit your 2012 Honda Accord just don't put it on a sunroof if you have one.
I've linked a couple of videos for you. Definitely check out the one of the VW van....view full answer...

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